Jimmy Alapag. PBA IMAGES
Former Gilas Pilipinas captain Jimmy Alapag is calling on Filipino basketball fans to help boost the country’s bid to win the hosting of the 2019 Fiba World Cup.
The right to host one of the most prestigious international basketball tournaments is down to two countries in the Philippines and China.
READ: Race to host 2019 Fiba World Cup down to Philippines, China
The Philippines successfully hosted the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship in Manila where Fiba officials were left in awe of the Filipinos unparalleled love for the sport of basketball.
And Alapag is hoping for the same avid supporters to show up and be part of an important gathering in an aim to bring the next Fiba World Cup here.
READ: PH well-equipped to host world caging–Fiba
“Our plan on June 12th at 12:30 p.m. here at the Smart Araneta Center is to really invite all of the passionate and basketball loving fans of Gilas and of Philippine basketball to sort of a rally to give everyone an opportunity to be a part of a really historic event for our country and in our bid to win the Fiba World Cup in 2019,” said Alapag, who had announced his retirement from basketball early this year, in an impromptu press conference Tuesday during halftime of a PBA game at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Our country has really shown Fiba the last few years form the Fiba Asia here in Manila and everyone knows our World Cup appearance in Sevilla, Spain so I think Fiba already knows the impact of the game of basketball has in our country and this World Cup bid really gives us the opportunity to show how passionate we are about the game and how big it would be not just for Philippine basketball but really for Philippine sports and of course our entire country to have the World Cup in 2019 here in our home soil,” Alapag added.
READ: Pau Gasol: Possible PH Fiba World Cup hosting ‘will be a lot of fun’–report
The gathering will also be attended by other former Gilas players, current PBA players and celebrities from TV5, according to Patricia Hizon, the project lead for the country’s Fiba bid presentation on August 8.
“Starting on June 12, we are really rallying everyone together for something important in a way that will show the world and show Fiba that the Philippines does deserve that most valuable fan award which we won during the Spain World Cup. But really, more than just a celebration, it’s really bringing everyone together making sure that we’re all aligned and on the same page as we push forward to our Fiba World Cup bid presentation,” Hizon said. CFC